Hiking to High Shoals Waterfall

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Video review of an easy 2.6 mile North Georgia hike travels to a series of impressive waterfalls along a popular hiking trail.

The hike to High Shoals Waterfall – actually a series of falls – in the Chattahoochee Forest north of Helen is an easy, 2.6 mile well-traveled trek along a rumbling creek that cascades down into a series of large, dramatic waterfalls. Shorter than most of our hikes, we loved the High Shoals Waterfall trail nonetheless, and think it’s a great destination when camping in the area or when paired with another hike in area.

Check out our HD video review of this hike:

From the trailhead, the hike descends through deciduous forest towards High Shoals Creek, with the trail flattening as it approaches the creek at a half mile.

Pass several campsites before crossing a bridge over High Shoals Creek. Rhododendron is dense along the trail as it winds along the creek, beginning a descent towards the first waterfall. At .75 miles, turn left on the side trail to hike down to Blue Hole Falls, a short (20 feet tall), wide waterfall that plummets into a deep pool of water at the bottom.

Return to the main trail, turning left off the side trail, to continue on to the second and larger waterfall deeper in the forest. At 1 mile, turn left on another side trail to descend to the second falls on a series of switchbacks, hearing the sound of the waterfall amplify as you approach. A viewing platform at 1.3 miles provides a great view of High Shoals Falls as it tumbles over 50 feet down into the pool below.

Return to the trailhead by retracing your steps from the second falls.

Getting there: take GA 75 ALT out of Cleveland, Georgia to GA 75 North past Unicoi Gap to Forest Road 283. Forest Road 283 turns sharply to the right off GA 75; be careful as you approach mile marker 2 after passing through Unicoi Gap as the gravel forest road is easy to miss and a very sharp turn. Follow FR 283 1.25 miles to the trailhead on your left after fording a shallow stream. GPS Coordinates: 34.816129,-83.727107